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He was promoting his "Pickens Plan" and welcoming a new corporate sponsor of the plan:
Columbus-based American Electric Power.

Pickens spoke at a town-hall-style meeting at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, joined by
Michael Morris, AEP's chairman, president and CEO.

"The security of America is at stake because of dependency on foreign oil from people who hate
us," Pickens said.

His plan would generate up to 22 percent of the nation's electricity from wind power and develop
an extra-high-voltage transmission system to move the power across the country. He also proposes a
dramatic increase in the use of natural gas as a motor fuel

"I think America has an opportunity to make a difference right now," Morris said, of the
possible benefits of the plan.

The two men were welcomed by Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, who noted that he is looking at
using federal stimulus money to buy natural-gas powered garbage trucks.